(WASHINGTON, DC) – U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) has cosponsored legislation to that would reimburse states within 90 days for any state funds used to reopen National Parks that were closed due to the government shutdown. The legislation, introduced by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), would reimburse the State of Utah for reopening 8 units of the National Park System in the state: The Mighty Five – Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Zion National Park; as well as Cedar Breaks National Monument, Natural Bridges National Monument, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Lake Powell).

“I was against shutting down the government from the start, and I’ve been working with my colleagues to reopen it as soon as possible and prevent a default, and it finally looks like there’s a compromise moving forward to accomplish this,” Hatch said. “Our beautiful parks are one of the key economic drivers in our state, and Governor Herbert did the right thing in working out an agreement with the Department of the Interior. It’s only fair and right for the state to be reimbursed for picking up the federal government’s slack. I hope Majority Leader Reid will bring this bill up for a vote soon so Utah taxpayers can be reimbursed.

(WASHINGTON, DC) – U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) has cosponsored legislation to that would reimburse states within 90 days for any state funds used to reopen National Parks that were closed due to the government shutdown. The legislation, introduced by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), would reimburse the State of Utah for reopening 8 units of the National Park System in the state: The Mighty Five – Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Zion National Park; as well as Cedar Breaks National Monument, Natural Bridges National Monument, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Lake Powell).

“I was against shutting down the government from the start, and I’ve been working with my colleagues to reopen it as soon as possible and prevent a default, and it finally looks like there’s a compromise moving forward to accomplish this,” Hatch said. “Our beautiful parks are one of the key economic drivers in our state, and Governor Herbert did the right thing in working out an agreement with the Department of the Interior. It’s only fair and right for the state to be reimbursed for picking up the federal government’s slack. I hope Majority Leader Reid will bring this bill up for a vote soon so Utah taxpayers can be reimbursed.